Sustainability
In a small commercial unit in Wandsworth, DRK Lighting was born. With only a handful of clients and limited resources, our small lighting company had managed to navigate through the sustainable lighting industry, outperforming those around us at the time.
This year, we welcomed electric vehicles into our fleet and launched a car-sharing program, making our daily commutes a bit greener. We swapped out paper for digital and found a love for recycling, particularly aluminium recycling.
We merged staff well-being with sustainability. Initiating staff pensions, aided by a private Financial Advisor, and introducing mental health support programs. High staff retention and internal promotion opportunities echo the harmonious, green culture we're nurturing.
Word spreads of the success of our lighting remanufacture service, and it is becoming more in demand. Our reputation for remanufacturing is growing due to the expertise of our workshop, and we create a dedicated team of Remanufacture Technicians. This service is a win-win, as it helps the environment and supports the circular economy while also providing long-term energy and cost savings to our clients.
We launched remanufacturing kits for customers to extend their lighting fixtures' lifespans in situ. We also introduced Lighting as a Service (LaaS), incentivising choosing us for both Cat A and B fit-outs and boosting the circular economy. At a reduced cost, we will supply both and take away the discarded Cat A products for reuse. This effort underscores our commitment to reducing waste and marks a significant step toward a more resource-efficient and sustainable lighting approach.
We move to our Chessington 6000 sq ft facility, setting a new standard in our sustainability journey. This facility is powered by roof-installed solar panels, marking our shift towards clean energy. With Greta Smetoniute as our Head of Sustainability, we now rigorously test our products' lifecycles. Greta's expertise is invaluable in crafting material passports and ensuring our operations align with our eco-conscious ethos, showcasing our proactive approach in merging sustainability with operational excellence. The Living Wage Foundation recognised us as a Living Wage Employer. Our engagement with the local community strengthens through initiatives like fundraising for Don’s Local Action Group. We've embraced Premed Go for staff health. Moreover, our partnership with South Thames College Group facilitates 16 annual school placements, offering students valuable workplace exposure and support. These endeavours reflect our dedication to both the environment and community development.
By now, our deliveries are sent out in reused packaging; we don’t order in any packaging of our own. This year, we did something exciting and purchased 4 acres of land in the Shropshire Hills, known as Hope Meadow, with a covenant in place with the farmer who owned it, ensuring that the land will be rewilded. The DRK team planted 200 trees, and we are already seeing fruits starting to grow, and the flora benefiting the local biodiversity and the wildlife. The land is estimated to sequester up to 5.74 metric tons of CO2 annually. We took our sustainable lighting offerings to new heights, challenging ourselves to repurpose infrastructure materials that would otherwise be discarded. So far, we have repurposed copper piping, air conditioning ducts, and handrails into functional, modern lighting fixtures.
This year has been all about investing in technologies that will help reduce our carbon footprint, improve product lifespans, and streamline our remanufacturing processes. Firstly, we set up a 3D printing farm, which enables us to create tailored solutions for projects that would otherwise result in old fittings being discarded. We have also produced a downlight aptly named ‘The Coffee Beam’ as it is 3D printed using discarded coffee bean husks. Our next step was introducing our ‘White Cube’, our dedicated remanufacturing laboratory, designed to optimise our process. Finally, we now have ‘The Black Box’, our testing facility with cutting-edge testing equipment, including a Goniophotometer, which will allow us to test products even more thoroughly to aid in extending their lifespans.
TM65 and TM66 are in progress, so we look forward to incorporating them into our portfolio soon. We are still working closely with DLAG and have plans for future fundraising. Whilst also continuing to team up with South Thames College Group to nurture a new generation of electricians. Furthermore, we plan a local cleanup event to benefit the local community and wildlife, as well as a blood donation event to contribute to societal well-being. Our goal is to lead in green innovation within our industry, pushing not just us but the entire sector towards a more sustainable future. We are committed to making a significant contribution to the global goal of net-zero emissions, integrating community involvement, industry innovation, and environmental care into our long-term vision.
